ORLANDO, Fla. — Luigi Fioravanti spends his days as an Orlando Police Department school resource officer at Edgewater High School. After school, he heads to wrestling practice to help out as an assistant coach.

What You Need To Know

Fioravanti spent 12 years competing professionally in MMA, including fighting nine times in the UFC

He is in his first year as a school resource officer at Edgewater High School

After school, the former all-state wrestler helps the Edgewater team, sharing his knowledge 

Fioravanti grew up in St. Petersburg and spent some time in the Marines before pursuing a mixed martial arts career.

“One of the top things I ever did in my life. I wanted to pursue a goal, and I was able to do it. I look back, and I’m like, ‘I can’t believe I did that.’ It was just a really cool experience,” Fioravanti said.

Over 12 years, Fioravanti won 26 MMA fights, including fighting in the UFC nine times to live out his dream.

“One of the fights I really remember is I fought a former middleweight champion. It was a fight night for the troops. It was a UFC event. It was the first one. The energy was so crazy in that place,” Fioravanti said. “They announced me as a former Marine. So you know, they’re all chanting for me. It was amazing. I still get goosebumps thinking about it.”

Then it was time for the next phase of his career. Fioravanti always wanted to be in law enforcement to help connect with youth and help show the human side of police officers. After school, he started helping with the wrestling team.

“I love it. I mean, this is what I look forward to at the end of my day. It’s coming here and helping these kids,” Fioravanti said.

It’s been a longtime wish for Edgewater head coach Josh Lowe.

“I’ve been working for years to get him here as an SRO officer. Finally getting him here, I can’t stress it enough as being a blessing,” Lowe said.

Fioravanti, a former all-state wrestler from St. Petersburg, trades his police vest for an Edgewater wrestling sweatshirt and shares his knowledge of wrestling technique with student-athletes working on their craft.